Activation of safety mechanisms using smart materials
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F16P-003/00
E05B-065/00
E05B-047/00
출원번호
US-0775790
(2013-02-25)
등록번호
US-9347609
(2016-05-24)
발명자
/ 주소
Pinto, IV, Nicholas W.
Browne, Alan L.
Johnson, Nancy L.
Bartos, Andrew L.
출원인 / 주소
GM Global Technology Operations LLC
대리인 / 주소
Parks IP Law LLC
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
3
초록▼
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to systems, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition. The system in one implementation includes first and second pulley devices configured to accommodate multiple stra
In various embodiments, the present disclosure relates to systems, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition. The system in one implementation includes first and second pulley devices configured to accommodate multiple strands of the transformable material. In another implementation, the system includes two connection points for holding the transformable material and an overload-protection sub-system for protecting the transformable material from overload. In still another implementation, the system includes a first biasing element and a manual-release sub-system including a second biasing element.
대표청구항▼
1. A system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition, comprising: a body;a first connection point connected mechanically to the body and including a first pulley device configured to accommodate one or more strands of the
1. A system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition, comprising: a body;a first connection point connected mechanically to the body and including a first pulley device configured to accommodate one or more strands of the transformable material; anda second connection point connected mechanically to the safety mechanism, in operation of the system, and including a second pulley device configured to accommodate the one or more strands of transformable material;wherein the transformable material is arranged in mechanical connection to the safety mechanism by way of the second connection point so that change in the transformable material in operation of the system causes movement of the safety mechanism between a protecting position for the safety mechanism and a non-protecting position for the safety mechanism. 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: a biasing element;the safety mechanism configured to, in operation of the system, be selectively moved, against force of the biasing element, by operation of the one or more strands of transformable material, to one of the protecting position and the non-protecting position; andthe one or more strands of transformable material being configured and arranged in the system so that, in operation of the system, when the one or more strands of transformable material are exposed to a stimulus, the one or more strands change from a first form to a second form, thereby moving the safety mechanism between the protecting position and the non-protecting position. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the stimulus is selected from a group consisting of electrical current, heat, lack of heat, and radiation. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein: the one or more strands comprise multiple strands; andeach of the first pulley device and the second pulley device includes a plurality of grooves through which the multiple strands of transformable material pass when the system is assembled for use. 5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overload-protection subsystem, for protecting the transformable material, comprising: an overload-protection arm connected to the first connection point and rotatably connected, at a pivot point, to the body; andan overload-protection biasing component connected to an end of the overload-protection arm to bias the arm to rotate in a first direction about the pivot point;wherein the one or more strands of transformable material are connected to the first connection point to, when actuated, move the connection point and thereby the overload-protection arm to rotate about the pivot point in a second direction opposite the first direction. 6. The system of claim 1, further comprising: an overload-protection biasing component; andan adjustment mechanism being connected to the overload-protection biasing component and configured to control a biasing force level of the biasing component. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein: the end of the overload-protection arm, to which the overload-protection biasing component is connected, is a first end of the overload-protection arm; andthe system further comprises an overload stop connected to the body adjacent a second end of the overload-protection arm. 8. The system of claim 5, wherein: the pivot point includes an overload link; andthe body includes a cavity configured to receive the overload link, allowing the link to rotate in the cavity and thereby the overload-protection arm to rotate about the pivot point. 9. The system of claim 5, further comprising a work arm, wherein the first pulley device extends between the work arm and the overload-protection arm. 10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an overload-protection subsystem, for protecting the transformable material, including: a hot cutoff switch being connected to the body and including a first trigger feature; anda second trigger feature connected to the second connection point and positioned to engage the first trigger feature in response to the second connection point being moved in a predetermined manner. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a manual-release sub-system being configured to allow a user to selectively de-activate the safety mechanism and comprising: a first mounting part connected to the body;a second mounting part positioned movably within a cavity of the body; anda biasing component extending between the first mounting part and the second mounting part. 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the transformable material is: connectable electrically, for operation of the system, to an electrical component having an unwanted electrical charge;changeable between a deformed shape and an undeformed shape based on electrical input resulting from the electrical charge at the electrical component; andconfigured and arranged in the system to, in response to being exposed to the electrical input, change to its undeformed shape and thereby actuate the safety mechanism to move between the protecting position and the non-protecting position. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the safety mechanism includes an openable/closable electrical switch positioned between the transformable material and the electrical component. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein: the body is a system body; andthe electrical switch is a blade-style contact switch including: a non-conductive switch body;a first electrical contact configured to connect to a main power source of the system;a second electrical contact configured to connect to the transformable material; andat least one conductive blade configured to be connected to the electrical component and arranged in the system to selectively engage the first electrical contact or the second electrical contact. 15. The system of claim 12, further comprising a draining sub-system configured and arranged in the system to reduce unwanted electrical charge in the electrical component. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the draining sub-system comprises a circuit having an arrangement selected from a group consisting of: (a) a resistor being linked in series with the transformable material;(b) the resister, being a first resistor, connected to a sub-arrangement including the transformable material and a second resistor connected in parallel;(c) the first resistor in series with a diode and the transformable material;(d) the first resistor connected to a sub-arrangement including the diode and the transformable material connected in parallel;(e) the first resistor connected to a sub-arrangement including the transformable material connected in parallel to a diode in series with the second resistor;(f) a positive temperature coefficient switch in series with the transformable material;(g) an electrical breaker in series with a transformable material and the first resistor;(h) the first resistor in series with the transformable material, and further in series with an audible indicator and/or a visual indicator; and(i) the first resistor connected to a sub-arrangement including the transformable material connected in parallel to the second resistor in series with an audible indicator and/or a visual indicator. 17. The system of claim 1, further comprising the safety mechanism, wherein: the safety mechanism comprises a movable locking component; andthe transformable material is connected mechanically to the movable locking component safety mechanism so that, in operation of the system, change in the transformable material causes the locking component to move between an unactuated state, in which the locking component is disengaged from a receiving component, and an actuated state, in which the locking component engages the receiving component. 18. A system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition, comprising: a body;a first connection point connected to the body and configured to accommodate the transformable material;a second connection point connected to the safety mechanism and configured to accommodate the transformable material; andan overload-protection sub-system configured to protect the transformable material, the sub-system comprising: an overload-protection arm connected to the first connection point and rotatably connected, at a pivot point, to the body; andan overload-protection biasing component connected to an end of the overload-protection arm to bias the arm to rotate about the pivot point. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein: the overload-protection biasing component, in being connected to the end of the overload-protection arm to bias the arm to rotate about the pivot point, is configured to bias the arm to rotate in a first direction about the pivot point; andthe transformable material is connected to the first connection point to, when actuated, move the connection point and thereby the overload-protection arm to rotate about the pivot point in a second direction opposite the first direction. 20. A system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition, comprising: a body;a first connection point connected to the body and configured to accommodate the transformable material;a second connection point connected to the safety mechanism and configured to accommodate the transformable material; andan overload-protection sub-system configured to protect the transformable material and comprising:a hot cutoff switch being connected to the body and including a first trigger feature; anda second trigger feature connected to the second connection point. 21. A system, for selectively actuating a safety mechanism, using a transformable material, to protect against an unwanted condition, comprising: a first biasing element;the safety mechanism comprising a movable locking component configured and arranged to, in operation of the system, be selectively moved, against force of the first biasing element, by operation of the transformable material between an unactuated state, in which the safety mechanism is de-activated by the locking component being disengaged from a receiving component and, and an actuated state, in which the safety mechanism is activated by the locking component engaging the receiving component; anda manual-release sub-system being configured to allow a user to selectively de-activate the safety mechanism and comprising: a first mounting part connected to the body;a second mounting part positioned movably within a cavity of the body; anda second biasing component extending between the first mounting part and the second mounting part. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein: the safety mechanism is configured and arranged in the system so that, in operation of the system, when the transformable material moves the movable locking component against the force of the first biasing element in operation of the system, the movable locking component moves according to a first movement; andthe manual-release sub-system, in being configured to, in operation of the system, allow the user to selectively de-activate the safety mechanism in operation of the system, is configured to cause the movable locking component to move according to a second movement differing from the first movement. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein the manual-release sub-system is configured to, in operation of the system, in response to user input in operation of the system, de-activate the safety mechanism without moving the movable locking component with respect to the body.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (3)
Yaeger John R. (Sunnyvale CA) Wilkins Suzanne R. (Capitola CA), Disc drive safety latch using shape memory metals.
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